| **Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) and Supplemental Equity Information - Schedule of Reclassification out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions** | 3 Months Ended | 9 Months Ended |
|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|----------------|----------------|
||
| **Reclassification Adjustment out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Line Items]**                                                                                                           |           |           |   |   |
| Other (income) expense                                                                                                                                                                               | $ 2            | $ 12           | $ 58 | $ 9 |
| Cost of sales                                                                                                                                                                                        | 495            | 425            | 1,478 | 1,244 |
| Income tax expense                                                                                                                                                                                   | 33             | 46             | 106 | 110 |
| Net earnings attributable to St. Jude Medical, Inc.                                                                                                                                                  | (212)          | (215)          | (545) | (767) |
| Unrealized gain (loss) on available-for-sale securities | Reclassification out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income                                                                             |           |           |   |   |
| **Reclassification Adjustment out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Line Items]**                                                                                                           |           |           |   |   |
| Other (income) expense                                                                                                                                                                               | 0              | (11)           | 0 | (18) |
| Income tax expense                                                                                                                                                                                   | 0              | 4              | 0 | 7 |
| Net earnings attributable to St. Jude Medical, Inc.                                                                                                                                                  | 0              | (7)            | 0 | (11) |
| Unrealized gain (loss) on derivative instruments | Reclassification out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income                                                                                    |           |           |   |   |
| **Reclassification Adjustment out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Line Items]**                                                                                                           |           |           |   |   |
| Cost of sales                                                                                                                                                                                        | 7              | (4)            | 1 | (8) |
| Income tax expense                                                                                                                                                                                   | (3)            | 0              | (1) | 0 |
| Net earnings attributable to St. Jude Medical, Inc.                                                                                                                                                  | $ 4            | $ (4)          | $ 0 | $ (8) |

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|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - Definition
Total costs related to goods produced and sold during the reporting period.
+ References
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|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - Definition
Amount of current income tax expense (benefit) and deferred income tax expense (benefit) pertaining to continuing operations.
+ References
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|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - Definition
The portion of profit or loss for the period, net of income taxes, which is attributable to the parent.
+ References
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|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - Definition
Amount of income (expense) related to nonoperating activities, classified as other.
+ References
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| - Definition
Line items represent financial concepts included in a table. These concepts are used to disclose reportable information associated with domain members defined in one or many axes to the table.
+ References
No definition available.
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